Is Charles Woodson too old to help Broncos win the Super Bowl?

Charles Woodson used to be a great NFL cornerback. But what does he have to offer the Broncos as a 36-year-old strong safety? Denver has a small window of opportunity to win the Super Bowl and the team wants to know if Woodson can help bring the Vince Lombardi trophy back to Colorado.

Quarterback Peyton Manning is 37 years old. Cornerback Champ Bailey is 34. Receiver Wes Welker is 32. Does Denver really need another thirty-something in Woodson? I say no. Peter Burns, however, thinks it is a no-brainer and believes adding a player of Woodson’s pedigree can only help. Listen to us debate here:

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OK, you get to play general manager of the Broncos. Is Woodson a high-priority signing? Or nothing more than a nice sentimental thought?

Kick it with Kiz and Peter Burns by joining the discussion on Mile High Sports Radio Monday through Friday from 7-9 a.m. At 93.7 FM and 1510 AM.

Wow Kliz…coming out firing! I double-dog dare you to ask Woodson that question during the 1st interview…

I really don’t see how Woodson could be anywhere near as slow as Leonhard, which is I’m guessing who’s role he would be replacing (the Dime back). Leonhard (bless his Badger heart) was never a DPOY either (and only a few years ago for Woodson).

Of course, the debate is to give the Dime playing time to our new Kavon Webster corner/safety hybrid, with his 4.3X speed and physical tackling.

If you want Webster to have a shot at being any good it would really help him to have another Hall of Fame player to learn from. I think adding Woodson to the roster is a great Idea. Maybe look at trading Moore and trying again with a draft pick next season.

Kiz your a clown. There is no downside to adding a veteran leader on the cheap with Super Bowl winning experience. What is your argument against? Woodson not a great player anymore? Same was said about Keith Brooking last year and he ended up becoming the starter while outplaying Joe Mays.

Yep, Woodson is useless and would offer nothing to the team. Why have a future hall of famer who even at his age is STILL better than every safety Denver has? Just go with Adams who is mediocre (and on the older side…32) and the young guys who may go and give up 70 yard bombs with under 40 seconds left in a playoff game.

Did you use the same logic when Denver signed Manning saying he is too old and washed up? Why get good players when your goal is to try and win a superbowl right now. Just go with the youth movement and waste the point of signing guys like Manning.

I like people slamming Woodson as though he is junk. The guy 2 seasons ago led the league in interceptions, was named a first team all pro and last year he was solid (2 picks, 1 forced fumble, 1.5 sacks in 7 games) before he got injured….and did that playing safety for the first time. The guy is quite simply a great player and he’d upgrade their secondary big time seeing as he can actually play man coverage which can’t be said for Denver’s current safeties, specifically Mike Adams.

That no team has signed him up until this point is not an indication that he is washed up but rather the league is mainly full of morons in front office positions.

First off, the Broncos do not distinguish between strong safety and free safety in their defense. They have 2 safeties, neither strong nor free. Second, Woodson has played a hybrid safety/corner position in recent years, often roaming in a role some would call a “monster.” He would likely be asked by the Broncos to match up with TEs like Gronkowski or slot WRs as needed, while also bringing the occasional blitz. It is unlikely that he would be seen as an every down “strong safety” as has been implied by DP writers, but even if he did see time in the base defense, he would still move into the “matchup/monster” role in packages with 5+ DBs, while Rahim Moore and Quentin Carter/Mike Adams fill the more traditional roles at the deeper safety positions. I say Carter/Adams because one will likely get cut if Woodson is signed, probably Adams. David Bruton’s special teams play makes him a likely lock for the roster, as is Moore, and with 6 CBs now on the team, they’ll likely carry only 4 safeties. Or CB Tony Carter could get cut/traded, leaving room for both Carter and Adams to make the squad as safeties.

Regardless, Woodson’s biggest contributions would come primarily in passing situations, which in today’s NFL is a lot. (The Broncos played nickel or dime 65% of the time last year.) Signing Woodson would be well worth it for the team because the skills he brings to the table, as described above, are unique, and the team has no other player on the roster capable of filling that role.

We absolutely need Woodson. He is as solid as they come. Surely he can easily handle SS. A versatile player, always has been. And let’s not forget the Rahim tragedy.. We need reliability and competence and the safety position. It would be a scary secondary. Please, please make it happen Broncos.

The simple fact is that broncos still haven’t replaced Jim Leonard, so are short a safety on the roster. That spot has been filled by CB Webster, a rookie who many considered a reach in the third round. The question isn’t about eating at Furrs or fetching tees — how crass. Can Woodson beat out Webster in camp? Can he provide quality depth, earn playing time in various packages, provide field leadership and make clutch plays when he’s in the game. How could the answer be no?

Kiszla just loves making idiotic statements and sees what kind of mess he can stir up. Yes, Woodson is old, but so was Keith Brooking, and he did pretty well last year. Woodson is still a ball hawk, too, and I’d rather take an older Woodson at 85% than a still-over-30 Adams at 100%, and at the least, he’d do exactly what Peter Burns said in that he’d play the role Jim Leonhard played last year. Yes, the Broncos need to get younger for the future, but they have three young safeties (Moore, Carter, and Bruton) who could use a wily old veteran like Woodson to help show them the ropes and contribute to the win-now mentality Denver has going on.

Woodson has multiple talent in the secondary.
I’m sure he will be a situational player most always in
sack situations plus taking a shot often as a nickel back
when bigger and slower receivers are featured.
He is a great find for 2013 season if he can stay healthy and used
with discreation. I suspect he still runs a 4.4 to 4.6 40 yd time???
Experience like he offers doesn’t come around often (GRAB HIM)

Peter Burns is a radio show host for Fox Sports Radio and Mile High Sports Radio in Denver. He is a former collegiate athlete and grew up in Baton Rouge, La. A self-proclaimed fan-analyst, Peter has covered every major sport for over a decade, including four NBA Championships with the San Antonio Spurs.